Electrical-contact-controlling float.



PATENTBD JUNE 30, 1903.

I. G. WATERMAN.

ELECTRICAL CONTACT CONTROLLING FLOAT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

n I I v n I INVENTOR UNITED STATES Patented June so, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICAL-CONTACT-CONTROLLING FLOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 732,608, dated June30, 1903.

Application filed August 4, 1902. Serial No. 118,339. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC G. WATERMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Barbara and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical-Contact-Controlling Floats; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to electrical-contactcontrolling floats.

The object of the present invention is the provision of animproved andnovel electricalcontact-controlling float of simple, compact, andinexpensive construction which can be used to make and break electricalcircuits wherever it is desired to control them through the rise andfall of a fluid, and the invention is designed more particularly for usein connection with certain improvements in the electrical control ofwater to lavatory bowls or basins and bath-tubs constituting thesubject-matter of my copending applications.

The invention comprises certain improvements in the float and electricalcontacts and their manner of cooperation, as fully set forth hereinafterand recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, avertical section; Fig. 3, a detail of the hook on the float; Fig. 4, abottom interior view of the cap, showing the contacts and plate; Fig. 5,a detail of the insulating-block, and Fig. 6 a detail of the movableplate.

The cylindrical float-casing 1 has a suitable pipe connection 2 forsupplying the water or other fluid to said casing through the relativelysmall aperture 3. The hollow cylindrical metallic float 4, located incasing 1, is provided with a hook 5 on its top.

The numeral 6 designates the cap or cover for the casing 1, said capbeing secured to the casing by the screws 7. The cap is made ofinsulating material; but a metallic cap could be employed and thecontacts insulated therefrom, if preferred. The center of-the cap isrecessed at 8 to permit the proper amount of play of the contacts andflexible or movable plate.

There are three contacts (shown at 9,

10, and 11) connected to the cap by screws 12, to which thecircuit-wires led inthrough the holes 13, 14:, and 15 in the flange ofthe cap are secured, and the free ends of the contacts extend under therecessed portion 8. The contacts extend in a radial direction, with thecenter contact 10 having its free end located below and adapted to makecontact with the other contacts, but normally separated therefrom.Disposed diametrically opposite the contacts is a plate 16, having abroadened end 16, loosely secured to the cap by screws 17, passingloosely through apertures in said end, While the free end of the plate16 extends under the recessed portion 8 and has secured thereto by ascrew 18 a block 19, of insulating material, provided with a slit 20,which receives the free end of the contact 10. The block 19 has anaperture 21', which receives the hook 5. The rise and fall of the floatwill therefore induce a corresponding movement in the insulating-block19, contact 10, and free end of plate 16, and when the float has risen,incident to the inflow of water or other fluid in the casing 1, thecontact 10 will be forced into contact with the contacts 9 and 11,completing the circuits in which said contacts are included.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electrical-contact-controlling float, the combination with afloat-casing, and a float, of an electrical contact, a movableelectrical contact, a movable member, and an insulating-block on themovable member which is engaged with the movable contact, said movablecontact and movable member being operated by the float.

2. In an electrical-con tact-controlling float, the combination with afloat-casing, and a float, of an electrical contact, a movableelectrical contact, a movable member, and an insulating-block secured tothe movable member and having a slit which loosely receives the movablecontact, said movable contact and movable member being operated by thefloat.

3. In an electrical-contact-controlling float, the combination with afloat-casing, and a float, of an electrical contact, a movableelectrical contact, a movable member, an insu- ICO 'cap cooperating withthe plate, said movable contact and plate being operated by the float.

5. In an electrical-contact-controlling float, the combination with afloat-casing, and a float therein, of a cap on the casing which has arecessed portion, an electrical contact on the cap extending under therecessed portion, a movable electrical contact on the cap extendingunder the recessed portion and the contact first named, and a plateconnected to the cap and extending under the recessed portion andcooperating with the movable electrical contact, said movable contactand plate being operated by the float.

6. In an electrical-contact-controlling float, the combination with afloat-casing, and a float therein, of a cap secured to the floatcasingand provided with a recess, an electrical contact secured to the cap andextending under the recess, a movable electrical contact secured to thecap and extending under the recess and under the contact first named, aplate, fastenings loosely connecting the plate to the'cap, said plateextending under the recess, an insulating-block secured to the plate andhaving a slit which receives the movable electrical contact and alsohaving an aperture, and a hook on the float which is received in theaperture aforesaid.

In testimony whereof -I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ISAAC G. VVATERMAN.

Witnesses:

W. H. KINOAID, ELMER TEAVEY.

